The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a comprehensive set of reforms and programmes aimed at deepening private sector participation in agriculture and strengthening food security across the Sahel region.
Speaking during a high-level panel discussion at the FAO Hand-in-Hand Sahel Regional Initiative held in Rome, Italy, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, outlined the administration’s strategic efforts to attract sustainable investments and accelerate agricultural transformation in Nigeria and beyond.
Kyari said the government’s agenda focuses on repositioning agriculture as a driver of inclusive economic growth through innovation, technology adoption, and strategic partnerships with the private sector.
According to him, the reforms are anchored on key pillars including improved access to agricultural finance, mechanization, irrigation development, climate-smart farming practices, and the establishment of special agro-industrial processing zones to boost value addition.
“The Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is committed to creating an enabling environment that will unlock the potential of agribusinesses, empower smallholder farmers, and enhance productivity across the value chain.”
He added that the government is also prioritizing policies that promote resilience to climate shocks, sustainable land management, and cross-border trade cooperation within the Sahel subregion to enhance food systems integration.
Kyari commended the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international partners for their continued support, stressing that Nigeria’s participation in the Hand-in-Hand Sahel Initiative aligns with its goal of ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and fostering regional stability.
“Food security is central to national security. Our collective success in the Sahel will depend on how well we collaborate across borders to tackle shared challenges such as desertification, food shortages, and rural poverty,” he emphasized.
The minister reiterated that Nigeria is committed to implementing practical and scalable agricultural solutions that will not only transform the local food system but also contribute to the overall resilience of the Sahel region.
The FAO Hand-in-Hand Sahel Regional Initiative brings together governments, development partners, and private sector actors to promote coordinated investments and strategies aimed at achieving sustainable agricultural growth and food security across the region.
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